Manipur girls ordered: 'decent' skirts, no mobiles

Girls in Manipur have been directed by some student organisations not to wear uniforms above the knee and avoid using mobile phones in schools and colleges.

Six student bodies issued this diktat today that sought to prohibit school and college students from wearing 'indecent dresses'.

They said girl students should wear the Manipuri ankle length dress 'Phanek' and under no condition uniforms above the knee would be tolerated.

The use of mobile phones during school or college hours would also not be allowed.

The student bodies including All Manipur Students Union, Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur and Manipur Students Federation formed a coordination committee to launch the drive, a joint statement said.

Sale of intoxicating substances at academic institutions would also be banned, the statement said.

In 2001, Manipuri rebel group KYKL, fighting for an independent homeland for the predominantly Hindu Metei community, had warned that women of the state who do not wear the traditional sarongs called 'Phaneks' could face a death penalty.